Positive locking drain plug



Sept. 10, 96.8 c. R. DE FOREST 3,400,683

' POSITIVE LOCKING DRAIN PLUG Filed July 6, 1967 INVENTOR.

57/915155 x? fla 5422277 United States Patent 3,400,683 POSITIVE-LOCKING DRAIN PLUG Charles R. De Forest, 5027 EadiePlace, West Palm Beach, Fla. 33407 Filed July 6, 1967, Ser. No. 651,578 Claims. ,(Cl; 114-185) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is directed primarily to a lever actuated toggle link pivotally positioning a drain plug selectively in open and closed positions, with a drain aperture in the transom of a boat, and retain the plug in locked open or closed positions.

This invention relates to positive marine drain plug and more particularly is directed to means for remotely operating a positive locking drain plug for boats in open and closed positions.

An object of this invention is to provide easy access to an operating lever to securely open and close a drain or sea-cock in the transom of a boat.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described for employment with all types of power operated boats, outboard, inboard, and inboardoutboard types as well as manually propelled boats, in which a drain aperture is provided in the transom near the bottom thereof and usually extremely difiicult to reach for operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for remote operation of a marine drain plug of the class described for external operation of such plugs, when located in the transom near the bottom or floor, of the boat, under the engine, by providing a lever actuated toggle link pivotally acutating the drain plug in and out of the drain aperture.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the class decribed which will be simple and economical in construction and installation, and be efiicient and durable m use.

The foregoing and other object and advantages of this invention will be more fully understood from the following specification, taking in conjunction with the drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device of this invention with the drain plug in closed position, parts shown in cross section for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, similar to FIG. 1, with the drain plug in open position, part shown in cross section for clarity;

FIG. 3 is an angular view taken at approximately 45 degrees from the views of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the drain plug midway between open and closed position; and,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a modification of the remote actuating lever positioned along the wall of a dry well.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are given the same reference numeral, a boat bottom 1 has a transom 2 secured thereto, and near the joinder thereof the transom 2 has a drain hole or circular aperture 3, therein. This basic type of construction is conventional for all types of powered craft, under 25 feet in length and is employed in some crafts over 25 feet in length, and is standard for inboard, outboard, inboard-outboard type vessels of metal, plastic, and wood, whether moulded, lapstake or marine plywood, or any combinations of these. The craft is usually delivered with a finished drain or aperture 3 having a brass ferrule 4 therein with a flange 5 formed external of the transom 2, by grommet flanging methods and a flange 6 internal the transom 2, sealing the ferrule ice ' operations.

The remote operation of the lever actuated toggle mechanism to selectively position the drain or closure plug in and out of the ferrule 4 forms the basis of this invention. A T-shaped bracket 8 is secured to the transom 2 in any suitable convenient manner, such as screws 9 with the flat head section of the T-shaped member adjacent and abutting the transom 2 and the leg 10 of this bracket extending inwardly into the boat. Pivotally mounted to the bracket leg 10 of the T-shaped bracket 8 is a U-shaped member 12 having the free ends thereof pivotally mounted to the bracket leg 10 with a pivot pin 14. Near the closed end of this U-shaped member 12 is pivotally mounted an actuating rod or lever 15, by a conventional pivot pin 16. The lever or rod 15 has the terminal or pivotal end angularly displaced so that the greater length of the lever or rod 15 is slideably positioned adjacent the transom 2 for access and operation at the upper level of the transom or even above the transom. Suitable guide means, such as cylindrical guides 17 may be positioned along the transom for guiding the straight greater length of the rod or lever 15; and the lever 15 may be mounted through the dry well, is illustrated in FIG. 4.

Pivotally mounted by a conventional pivot pin 18, intermediate the aforesaid pivots 14 and 16, are the open ends of a U-shaped plug lever 19. Removably mounted, by compression of threaded engagement of nuts 20 positioned on each side of the U-shaped drain plug lever 19, is a rod 21 having threaded end portions to receive the nuts 20 for compression mounting one end of the rod 21 to the plug lever 19 and for mounting the drain plug on the other end thereof. The drain plug 24 may be secured to the free end of the drain plug rod 21 in any suitable convenient manner, such as using nuts 20, to compress the plug 24 therebetween; also, the free end of the rod 21 may be tapped to receive a stud bolt 23 on the free end thereof for securing the plug 24 to the rod 21 and abutting a nut 20 thereon.

Any drain plug 24 may be used, but the preferred plug 24 is of a particular configuration, being provided with a flange 26 to abut the internally positioned flange 6 of the ferrule 4. The outwardly extending extremity 27 of the plug 24 is provided with a tapering surface for ease in inserting into the ferrule 4 with the central portion 28 is of a slightly outwardly tapering design.

The positive locking feature of the actuating mechanism is a toggle link 30 having one end thereof pivotally connected by a pivot pin 31 to the U-shaped member 12, intermediate the pivot points 14 and 16 therein; and, the other end of the toggle link 30 is pivotally connected by a similar pivot pin 31 to the U-shaped plug lever 19. The toggle link 30 is of such a length and so positioned that when the actuating rod or lever 15 is depressed or pushed down, pivoting the pivotally interconnected parts, the longitduinal axis of the toggle link 30 is angularly disposed with respect to the axis of pivots 14 and 16 in the U-shaped member 12, and the pivot 31 in said member 12 is below said axis of pivots 14 and 16, urging the drain plug 24 into the ferrule 4. A stop pin 31 is inserted in the drain plug lever 19 to abut the U-shaped member 12, when the mechanism is pivoted to position the drain plug in closed position, to limit movement of the toggle link 30 urging the plug further than necessary to effect closed position in the ferrule 4. When the actuating rod or lever 15 is lifted or raised, pivoting the interconnected members, the pivot link 30 is pivoted so that it is urging the drain plug 24 and drain plug lever 19 away from the ferrule 4, when the actuating rod or lever 15 has been raised sufiiciently to pivot the longitudinal axis of the toggle link 30 passed mid-point or angularly disposed above the axis of the pivots 14 and 16. The length of the toggle link 30 and the positioning of the pivot points 31 thereof will determine the length or distance that the actuating rod or lever 15 must be moved to make the pivoted toggle link 30 effective to lock the drain plug 24 in closed position with respect to the ferrule 4, and to lock the drain plug 24 in open position with respect to the ferrule 4.

The invention has been described in great detail for a specific application with specific parts. It is understood however that the invention is not so limited as it can be used in other types of boat construction, in other positions, and many modifications and changes can be made in the specific operative mechanism without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed, and is desired to secure by the grant of United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a boat having a drain aperture, a remote controlled positive locking drain plug, comprising a plug adapted to close the drain aperture, a bracket, a pair of overlapping elongated lever members pivotally connected to said bracket, a rod connecting one of said lever members and said plug, an actuating lever pivotally connected to the other said lever member, and a toggle link pivotally connected to each of said pair of lever members and so positioned that the longitudinal axis said toggle link is angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the pivot point of the lever member having the actuating lever pivoted thereto when the actuating lever is moved in a direction to position the plug in the said aperture.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said plug connected to one of the lever members is connected by means of a rod having an arcuate portion.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said pair of elongated lever members are U-shaped.

4. The device of claim 1 provided with a stop pin positioned on one of said pair of lever members, to abut the other of said lever members when the drain plug is engaged in said aperture.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said toggle link is such length and so positioned as to urge the said plug towards said aperture when the actuating lever is moved in one direction, and to urge the said plug away from said aperture when said actuating lever is moved in the opposite direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,217,685 11/1965 Mueller 114-183 ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner. 

